Laser diode-pumped Nd:SA laser with switchable dual-wavelength operation

Abstract A laser diode-pumped Nd:SrAl 12 O 19 (Nd:SA) laser capable of switchable dual-wavelength operation was demonstrated for the first time. The condition for gain-to-loss balance was theoretically analyzed using a birefringent filter (BRF). Furthermore, three pairs of switchable dual-wavelength outputs were experimentally obtained: 1049/1066 nm, 1066/1072 nm and 1049/1072 nm. Under 20 W of pump power at 792 nm, the total output powers for these three pairs were measured as 5.94 W, 4.41 W and 3.09 W, corresponding to optical-to-optical conversion efficiencies of 29.7%, 22.1% and 15.5%, respectively. Moreover, by varying the BRF thickness, simultaneous triple-wavelength lasing at 1049, 1066 and 1072 nm ​was​ achieved, with a total output power of 1.92 W and an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 9.6%.